Digital Commons Network^™

Leveraging Machine Learning & Deep Learning Methodologies To Detect Deepfakes, Aniruddha Tiwari

All Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Other Capstone Projects

The rapid evolution of deep learning (DL) and machine learning (ML) techniques has facilitated the rise of highly convincing synthetic media, commonly referred to as deepfakes. These manipulative media artifacts, generated through advanced artificial intelligence algorithms, pose significant challenges in distinguishing them from authentic content. Given their potential to be disseminated widely across various online platforms, the imperative for robust detection methodologies becomes apparent. Accordingly, this study explores the efficacy of existing ML/DL-based approaches and aims to compare which type of methodology performs better in identifying deepfake content. In response to the escalating threat posed by deepfakes, previous research efforts …

Eficacia De Técnicas De Introducción De Vocabulario Para Estudiantes De Español Como Segunda Lengua, Enzo Hellmeister

All Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Other Capstone Projects

This thesis examines the effectiveness of different techniques for teaching Spanish vocabulary to second language learners, specifically focusing on students in SPAN 101 at Minnesota State University, Mankato. It compares traditional flashcards with vocabulary exercises contextualized within language contexts to determine the most impactful method for long-term retention and practical application of Spanish vocabulary. Using a mixed-methods research approach, including pre- and post-assessments and qualitative data collection, the study involves 42 Spanish students. The analysis reveals distinct outcomes: traditional flashcards result in an average improvement of 13.38% in vocabulary correctness, while in-context activities show a more substantial enhancement of 17.47%. …

A Qualitative Analysis Of Community-Dwelling Older Adults’ Perspectives Of Elderspeak, Katelynn Shimanski

All Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Other Capstone Projects

Compared to other forms of discrimination, ageism, and specific forms of ageism such as elderspeak are understudied. Despite the fact that the majority of older adults are community-dwelling, much of the existing literature on elderspeak focuses on caregiver perceptions on elderspeak occurring in assisted living facilities and nursing homes. The present study analyzed community dwelling older adult’s perceptions of elderspeak using their personal examples of experiences of elderspeak. Results indicated that the majority of participants had negative perceptions of elderspeak that would likely not be influenced by changes in contextual factors such as setting, relationship to the speaker, and gender …

Evaluating The Effects Of Topographic Position On Soil Carbon Content In Prairie Pothole Agricultural Landscapes, Grace Uchytil

All Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Other Capstone Projects

Prairie potholes are depressional wetland features found throughout the northern Great Plains region of the United States and Canada. These wetlands have high potential to store large quantities of carbon, but many have been altered for conventional agricultural practices. Recently, conservation practices (e.g., no-till and cover crops) and federal conservation programs (e.g., Conservation Reserve Program (CRP)) are contributing to these landscapes returning to their more natural state. The restoration of prairie pothole soils has the potential to increase their carbon storage abilities, which would help decrease CO2 in the atmosphere and aid in mitigating climate change. The purpose of this …

Post-Glacial Landscape Evolution Of The Lower St. Croix River Valley: The Enigma Of Glacial Lake Grantsburg, The Osceola Bench, And The St. Croix Dells, Hunter Delikowski

All Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Other Capstone Projects

The St. Croix River valley (SCRV) is the product of dyssynchronous glacial advance and retreat of several glacial lobes during regional deglaciation of the Late Pleistocene-Early Holocene transition. Additionally, the SCRV has been dramatically shaped by multiple proglacial lake drainage episodes. Therefore, the SCRV is an important case study to understanding the impacts of proglacial lake spillover processes. However, the magnitude, frequency, timing, duration, and geomorphic impacts of these floods remain enigmatic. We focus on a specific reach of the SCRV, which we name the Lower SCRV for the purpose of this study. The lower SCRV contains several anomalous landforms …

Caregiving For A Formally Abusive Or Neglectful Parent: A Qualitative Interview Study Of Caregiver Motivations, Hannah Radcliff-Hoy

All Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Other Capstone Projects

The research on caregiving for a formerly abusive or neglectful parent has been largely quantitative and does not explain caregiver motivations or daily experiences of caregiving. This research project seeks to explore what motivates caregivers to provide care to a formerly abusive or neglectful parent and what these experiences are like for caregivers. Using in-depth interviews with caregivers of formerly abusive or neglectful parents and autoethnographic data from my own experience of caregiving for my abusive mother, which were transcribed and analyzed using thematic analysis to identify patterns. This project found that these individuals express feeling a pressure to remain …

Dead Bodies As Quasi-Persons, Ela A. Leshem

Faculty Scholarship

No abstract provided.

From The Editors, Linda Doornbos, Michele Phillips

The Great Lakes Social Studies Journal

None

A More Perfect Alphabet: Exploring Antebellum Spelling Reform Through Primary Sources, Joslyn Hunscher-Young, Jared Aumen, Paul Erickson

The Great Lakes Social Studies Journal

None

The Great Lakes Social Studies Journal Volume 4, Issue 1 Full Issue, Linda Doornbos, Michele Phillips, Scott Koenig, Karen Widger Caldwell, Jennifer M. Quick, Joslyn Hunscher-Young, Jared Aumen, Paul Erickson, Seth A. Mccall, Cedyiesha Pope, Gloria Shaw, Timothy N. Constant

The Great Lakes Social Studies Journal

None

Teaching Social Studies Research Skills In A World History Classroom, Ronald V. Morris, Denise Shockley

The Great Lakes Social Studies Journal

None

Syntax Of Sports Class 6: Drafting And Editing, Patrick Barry

Books

How do you start a piece of writing? How do you edit one? And what can be done to combat those pesky—and paralyzing—feelings of perfectionism that often derail our most important sentences and paragraphs?

This sixth volume of the Syntax of Sports series creatively uses the language of baseball, football, tennis, and many other sports to explore these questions. Based on a popular course at the University of Michigan, it captures the energy, originality, and discipline - crossing insights that make its author, Professor Patrick Barry, such a sought-after teacher and presenter.

Associations Between Physical Activity Levels And Physical And Mental Health In Military Veterans., Troy Hubert

Theses and Dissertations--Psychology

Research suggests that higher rates of health conditions are associated with lower levels of physical activity, but this association is not well characterized in U.S. Military Veterans. The current study utilized a sample of U.S. military veterans (n = 3,989) from the 2019-2020 National Health and Resiliency in Veterans Study (NHRVS). Physical activity levels (insufficient, moderate, and active), physical and mental health were evaluated with a variety of self-report questionnaires. After controlling for covariates, veterans with any disability, asthma, chronic pain, diabetes, high cholesterol, and stroke were significantly less likely to report sufficient physical activity compared to insufficient physical …

An Introduction To Film (3rd Ed.), Teresa Fisher

Open Educational Resources

This textbook provides an introduction to films and the filmmaking process. Each chapter covers a different facet of filmmaking starting with a brief history of film, primarily focused on that in the USA. Then it moves into exploring how to watch films from a critical perspective. After that, there are chapters exploring the various aspects of filmmaking: mise-en-scène, narrative, cinematography, editing, sound, and acting. Finally, the textbook ends wiith a look at documentary and experimental films with an additional look at animation.

Gandal Syllabus English 320, Advanced Fiction Writing, Keith Gandal

Open Educational Resources

Students in this course will learn the art of writing and rewriting short stories.

Developing And Implementing A Sexually Transmitted Disease Screening Program To Decrease Chlamydia Cases On A College Campus, Amanda C. Harris

All Capstone Projects

Introduction: Sexually active college students were experiencing a high incidence, spread, and reinfection of the sexually transmitted Disease (STD) chlamydia on a university campus.
Purpose: To determine if implementing of a quality improvement program on campus utilizing a holistic approach would help decrease chlamydia cases. This program focused on fast-track STD screening, increasing knowledge about STDs, and addressing mental health issues.
Methods & Study Design: This was a descriptive/quasi-experimental design. Participants utilized the fast-track STD screening and completed surveys. Descriptive statistics and frequency tables were used to summarize survey responses for 1) the pre-and post-sexually transmitted disease (STD) education survey, …

In An Immersive Space, Raising Awareness To Universalize The Concept Of Resistance And Hope, Elaheh Jazemi

Graduate Thesis and Dissertation 2023-2024

Inspired by my Iranian heritage, I symbolize my narrative of the social injustice and suppression prevalent in Iran. Through this thesis, I universalize the concept of resistance and hope for equality by raising awareness and giving a voice to the voiceless despite their significant sacrifices. In my studio practice, I sought to achieve a visual density that would enhance the immersive experiences. I constructed this by overlapping transparent materials such as tulle, resin, silk, and transparent sheets, creating a disorienting atmosphere that invites viewers to grapple with visual metaphors. This overwhelming ambiance, mirroring the despondent nature of the emotions conveyed …

Comical, Familial, Satirical: Exploring Visual Culture Through Portraiture And Graphic Narrative, Matthew D. Dunn

Graduate Thesis and Dissertation 2023-2024

My art examines visual culture using a plethora of techniques, formats, and materials. Recent works address family, pop-culture, and politics utilizing portraiture and short-form comics. Much of my art expresses humor through colorful, irreverent imagery, and many works employ satire and parody. Leveraging my experience as a professional illustrator and designer, I tailor my approach to each project, drawing upon divergent styles with an emphasis on polish and accessibility. I frequently adapt well-known images to recontextualize subjects. In my investigation of graphic narrative, I produced political comics, vintage comic book parodies, and experimental, interactive work. This body of work was …

2024, 1(18)

Journal of Marketing and Consumer Behaviour in Emerging Markets

Full Issue 2024, 1(18)

Implementing Social Determinants Of Health Data Collection In A Large Urban Pediatric Hospital Setting, Stormee Williams, Kristina Hill, Barry Owen, Forest Melton

Research

No abstract provided.

On Vulnerabilities Of Building Automation Systems, Michael Cash

Graduate Thesis and Dissertation 2023-2024

Building automation systems (BAS) have become more commonplace in personal and commercial environments in recent years. They provide many functions for comfort and ease of use, from automating room temperature and shading, to monitoring equipment data and status. Even though their convenience is beneficial, their security has become an increased concerned in recent years. This research shows an extensive study on building automation systems and identifies vulnerabilities in some of the most common building communication protocols, BACnet and KNX. First, we explore the BACnet protocol, exploring its Standard BACnet objects and properties. An automation tool is designed and implemented to …

Exploring The Removal Potential Of Multi-Pollutants From Water Matrices With Innovative Speciality Adsorbents In A Field-Scale Filtration System, Jinxiang Cheng

Graduate Thesis and Dissertation 2023-2024

Driven by excess nutrients in water bodies, eutrophication has long been an issue in water resources management. Harmful algal blooms (HABs) in a highly eutrophic water body lead to hypoxia, creating a “dead zone,” which renders the oxygen levels inadequate for the survival of marine life. This study examined the field-scale filtration performance of two specialty absorbents to improve watershed remediation within a Total Maximum Daily Load program. The goal was to simultaneously remove nutrients and biological pollutants along Canal 23 (C-23) in the St. Lucie River Basin, Florida. The filtration system installed in the C-23 river corridor was equipped …

Developing A Course Enrollment Simulation Model To Improve College Graduation Outcomes, Rachel Straney

Graduate Thesis and Dissertation 2023-2024

The process of enrolling and completing the courses needed to earn an undergraduate degree involves complex interactions between individual students and institutional policies and procedures, especially because student and institutional priorities do not always align. Traditional social and behavioral statistical methods are ineffective for modeling these interactions. Simulation and algorithm-based modeling approaches have been underutilized in higher education, but their adaptability can accommodate the complexity of the degree attainment process. The purpose of this research was to design, develop, validate, and apply a multi-method Course Enrollment Simulation Model (CESM), which mirrored the process of college students enrolling in courses required …

Efficient Processing Of Convolutional Neural Networks On The Edge: A Hybrid Approach Using Hardware Acceleration And Dual-Teacher Compression, Azzam Alhussain

Graduate Thesis and Dissertation 2023-2024

This dissertation addresses the challenge of accelerating Convolutional Neural Networks (CNNs) for edge computing in computer vision applications by developing specialized hardware solutions that maintain high accuracy and perform real-time inference. Driven by open-source hardware design frameworks such as FINN and HLS4ML, this research focuses on hardware acceleration, model compression, and efficient implementation of CNN algorithms on AMD SoC-FPGAs using High-Level Synthesis (HLS) to optimize resource utilization and improve the throughput/watt of FPGA-based AI accelerators compared to traditional fixed-logic chips, such as CPUs, GPUs, and other edge accelerators. The dissertation introduces a novel CNN compression technique, "Two-Teachers Net," which utilizes …

Investigating Emerging Technologies In Civil Structural Health Monitoring: Generative Artificial Intelligence And Virtual Reality, Furkan Luleci

Graduate Thesis and Dissertation 2023-2024

Condition assessment of civil engineering infrastructure systems is of growing importance as they face aging and degradation due to both human-made activities and environmental factors. Nevertheless, challenges persist in data collection, leading to "data scarcity", and the need for frequent site visits in inspections, presenting significant obstacles in the assessment of the civil infrastructure systems. This dissertation aims to overcome these challenges by exploring the potential of two emerging technologies: Generative Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Virtual Reality (VR). In tackling the issue of data scarcity, the research question revolves around how Generative AI can be utilized to mitigate data collection-related …

Privacy And Security Of The Windows Registry, Edward L. Amoruso

Graduate Thesis and Dissertation 2023-2024

The Windows registry serves as a valuable resource for both digital forensics experts and security researchers. This information is invaluable for reconstructing a user's activity timeline, aiding forensic investigations, and revealing other sensitive information. Furthermore, this data abundance in the Windows registry can be effortlessly tapped into and compiled to form a comprehensive digital profile of the user. Within this dissertation, we've developed specialized applications to streamline the retrieval and presentation of user activities, culminating in the creation of their digital profile. The first application, named "SeeShells," using the Windows registry shellbags, offers investigators an accessible tool for scrutinizing and …

Psychometric Evaluation Of A Brief Measure For Body Image Concerns Related To Breast Appearance, Sivanne Mendelson

Graduate Thesis and Dissertation 2023-2024

The complexity of breast-specific body image concerns among women considering cosmetic breast surgery (CBS) underscores the need for a nuanced assessment tool. Despite numerous existing body image measures, there remains a need for a concise, validated instrument focusing on satisfaction with breast appearance. The development of the Breast Appearance Concerns Scale (BACS) aimed at assessing the multifaceted nature of breast-specific concerns through a patient centered lens within a population of otherwise healthy young adult women. The BACS was developed through a comprehensive review of existing literature and refined using exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses, in addition to Rasch measurement analysis. …

Oer For Building Bridges To Knowledge Orientation Slides, Ann Fiddler

Open Educational Resources

No abstract provided.

A Handheld, Biomimetic, Phase Change Microsystem For Breath Condensate Based Point-Of-Use (Pou) Diagnostics Assays, Pablo Morales-Cruz

Graduate Thesis and Dissertation 2023-2024

A variety of biomimetic [Stenocara gracilipes (Namib desert beetle), Dendrocalamus brandissii (Velvet Leaf Bamboo), and Opuntia microdasys (Bunny Ear Cactus)]-based microsystems, were developed to collect exhaled breath for use in point-of-use (POU) settings. The overall platform consists of a 50 x 50 mm 3D printed micro-chamber which is decorated with a PDMS micromolded Breath Condensate Collection Chip (BCCC) emulating the morphology of the biomimetic architectures. The micro-chamber and BCCC are further treated with a nanoscale superhydrophobic coating and infused with oil for enhancement in condensate collection. Different designs and setups were tested for optimum breath collection along with different …

Industrial Safety: How Complacency At Industrial Facilities Has Evolved As A Result Of Widespread Corporate Leadership Induced Reductions In Force Of Essential Critical Infrastructure Workers, Christina Kniffin-Downs

Graduate Thesis and Dissertation 2023-2024

With the renewal of interest in nuclear energy as a green energy source, battery plant manufacturing for electric vehicles, and semiconductor fabrication plant construction, it is necessary to address the evolution of complacency as it relates to industrial facility leadership and the widespread reduction in force of essential critical infrastructure workers. As a skilled craft person in the piping trades, with almost two decades of experience in mechanical construction, ten of those years as a nuclear worker, and as a traveling pipefitter working at chemical, refinery, and gasification plants, I am intimately aware of the behaviors, practices, and procedures inherent …